When it comes to backcountry stoves, it's tough to beat the convenience of an integrated stove system. Integrated canister stoves connect a pot and burner together securely, which maximizes fuel efficiency, wind performance, stability, ease of use, and leads to very fast boil times. Integrated stoves are also designed to be highly portable, with all components and a fuel canister fitting snuggly inside the pot together.

The main downside with integrated stoves is they tend to be heavier than the combination of an ultralight stove and pot (our faves are the BRS + Mini Solo), but depending on your needs, the added convenience, fuel efficiency, wind performance, and super fast boil times of an integrated stove may make them a better fit for your adventures.

In the world of integrated stoves, two models stand apart in our opinion: the Jetboil MiniMo and MSR WindBurner. While both stoves perform very well and are worth recommending, we wanted to put the two systems up against each other to see which one wins out in a range of performance categories.

Price

In general, integrated stove systems tend to be on the expensive side. There are more affordable backpacking stove options, but remember that these systems are a combination of stove, pot, and bowl, not just a stove. Also, it's tough to beat the convenience and performance of integrated stoves, so for many they're worth the investment, especially if you plan to put them to good use over many years. The MSRP of both these stoves is close, but the MiniMo wins out by a hair.

Weight

Both stove systems are heavier than the average ultralight stove and pot combination, but their speed, convenience, and stability make them exceptional for backcountry travel. If you're looking to travel light, we recommend checking out the BRS Stove and Mini Solo Cookset (total weight: 7.5 oz), but you will sacrifice a bit on fuel efficiency, wind performance, cook time and overall stability. As far as these two integrated stoves are concerned, the Jetboil MiniMo wins out by a small margin.

Boil Time

The MiniMo and Windburner both have incredibly quick boil times, which is a nice convenience after a long day on the trail or when you're making a hot cup of java on a chilly morning. We tested both these systems in a range of different conditions and recorded the boil times as we cooked. Below are the average boil times we found when using each system in the same conditions.

Simmer Control

Both stove systems offer good simmer control, allowing you to go beyond just boiling water. With simmer control, you can cook meals that require low heat and longer cook times, and also keep the contents of your pot from boiling over. This was a close one, but we thought the MiniMo's simmer control was slightly easier to adjust.

WINNER: Jetboil MiniMo

Stove to Pot Attachment

Having a secure stove to pot attachment is essential for stability. While both these systems are secure, the MSR WindBurner has more pot locking notches, which makes it easier to quickly fit the pot to the stove and lock it securely into place. The Jetboil MiniMo has only two notches, so you need to line it up at the proper attachment spot. We also found that the MiniMo has a slightly less secure feeling attachment with a little wobble, compared to the solid connection of the WindBurner.

WINNER: MSR WindBurner

Pot and Lid

The MiniMo has a wide, stout pot, which is easier to eat out of and also makes for slightly faster boiling times. In comparison, the Windburner's pot is tall and slender, which makes it a bit easier to fit in a backpack, but harder to spoon out a meal. Both pots are good, but we generally prefer the shape of the wider MiniMo.

The lids on both the MiniMo and WindBurner are fairly secure. That said, after boiling, we found it easier to remove the lid from the MiniMo without risking hot steam hitting our fingers. More importantly, we found the pour spouts on the MiniMo worked far better than the spouts on the Windburner lid. The MiniMo did not leak, but the Windburner did, and leaking boiling water while trying to make a controlled pour is a pretty big downside in our books.

WINNER: Jetboil MiniMo

Handle

The large metal swinging handles on the MiniMo feel much more secure to us than the plastic and nylon strap handle on the Windburner. This one isn’t really even close.

WINNER: Jetboil MiniMo

Wind Performance

Both these integrated stove systems will work far better in windy conditions than a typical stove and pot combination. Overall this is one of their key strengths. That said, the WindBurner is an absolute beast in nasty weather and we found it works better in fierce winds than the MiniMo.

WINNER: MSR WindBurner

Durability

Both these systems are very high quality, and if treated with care, they should last for many years of backcountry use. This was a close one, but the WindBurner does feel more secure and stable to us than the MiniMo, which has a slight wobble between the stove and pot. We also really believe in the quality craftsmanship, product testing, and warranty behind MSR products, which we've been using for many years.

WINNER: MSR WindBurner

Ignition

The MiniMo has a push button igniter, while the Windburner requires the use of a small lighter for ignition. This is another key win in convenience for the MiniMo. In the long run, push button igniters tend to eventually fail, but, they’re also a really nice convenience for the first 1,000+ uses.

WINNER: Jetboil MiniMo

Overall Winner...

While both of these cooking systems are excellent performers and definitely worth recommending, if we had to choose only one, we’d go with the Jetboil MiniMo. The key differentiators of the MiniMo for us are its sturdy handles, far better functioning lid and pour spouts, wide pot shape, push button ignitor, and slightly faster boil times. It also doesn't hurt that it costs and weighs a bit less. While the MiniMo doesn't perform quite as well in heavy winds as the MSR Windburner and was slightly less fuel efficient in our testing, those downsides weren't quite enough to swing the scales for us.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.

GEAR GUIDE 2018

Packing a top-notch tent is one of the best ways to increase comfort, safety, and enjoyment on backcountry trips. So when you're in the market for a new shelter, pick up one of the Best Backpacking Tents of 2018.

Staying hydrated and avoiding parasites in the backcountry is critical. We explain the key differences of each water treatment method and share our personal favorites in our list of the Best Water Filters of 2018.

Trekking poles can add a lot of stability and comfort to your hike. We tested dozens of trekking poles to narrow the list down in terms of durability, comfort, weight and value to determine this year's Best Trekking Poles.

We put together this list to showcase some solid budget tents that strike a good balance between cost, weight, weather protection, and durability. If you’re on a tight budget or new to backpacking, check out our Best Budget Tents of the year.

Outdoor adventure gifts are the best kind around. The gift ideas listed in the CleverHiker Gift Guide are can’t miss recommendations for anyone that enjoys backpacking, hiking, and camping. So give a gift that gets someone outdoors this year. Give the gift of adventure!

POPULAR BLOG CONTENT

The Pacific Northwest is an adventure junkie’s paradise. It’s a breathtakingly diverse playground of craggy granite peaks, high alpine lakes, meadows socked with wildflowers, rugged windswept coastline, and more shades of green than your eyeballs can handle.

If you’ve spent any time in the woods, you’ve probably made some epic backcountry blunders. I certainly have. In fact, the only reason I’m able to give any “clever” hiking advice is because of all the laughably bad mistakes I’ve made over the years. At one point or another I’ve fallen victim to every one of the blunders listed below (and then some!).

Completing a thru-hike will be one of the most profoundly rewarding achievements of your life. You’ll spend months communing with nature, build jaw-dropping endurance, and develop lasting friendships along the way. Mustering up the courage to set out on your first thru-hike just might be the best decisions you ever make.

For many of us, it’s been drilled into our heads since day one that backpackers wear boots. That’s just what you do. You need the toughness and the ankle support and the water protection, right? That’s why it blew my mind a few years back when I learned that thru-hikers cover thousands of trail miles every year in running shoes. Now, after many years and many miles, I feel very confident saying: Ditch the boots and don't look back.

A lightweight down coat should be at the center of any good backpacking list. You’ll wear it just about every night on the trail. It’ll keep you toasty warm, even after spending hours jammed into the bottom of your pack. So, considering how essential your down coat is and how often you use it, let me ask you this; when was the last time you washed it?

One of my favorite shots from this weekend’s backpacking trip in Death Valley. A natural yin and yang balance between light and size and ruggedness and beauty. Marble Canyon was really spectacular.
.
Also, we just posted a full guide to this awesome 26-mile loop on our blog, and winter’s the perfect time to take it on.
.
#deathvalley #marblecanyon #cottonwoodmarblecanyonloop #cleverhiker

Went on an incredible backpacking trip in Death Valley this past weekend with some of my closest friends. It’s always good to spend time in nature with people you care about.
.
#deathvalley #cottonwoodmarblecanyonloop #cleverhiker

Just finished up day 4 on our JMT thru-hike!! The weather has been lovely, our packs are feeling good, and we’re very excited for what lies ahead. At the moment we’re chillin at Red’s Meadow on mile 60 of the trail. Eating some good food and enjoying a cold brewski. About 160 miles left in our journey, which we’re expecting will take about 12-13 more days. Hope all is well in your world!! .
#jmt2018 #johnmuirtrail

Lovely hike up to Wheeler Peak today, highest point in NM. 🤗

Had a stellar day yesterday. Got some solid work done in the morning, ate some delicious grub in Bozeman, and headed out to the mountains to camp. Any day with alpine lakes is a win in my books. 👌

CleverHiker.com

Get In The Mix

Social media is great, but my monthly newsletter is a much better way to stay in the know. Sign up to get one curated email per month with the best content from CleverHiker and around the backpacking world. You'll be turned on to new videos, trip reports, gear reviews, inspiring outdoor stories and much more. So get in the mix!

Email Address

I respect your privacy.

Thank you!

Annapurna Range - Nepal

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn." - John Muir

Half Dome - Yosemite NP

At CleverHiker, we believe that backpacking adventures provide some of life’s most rewarding experiences. Our goal is to help make your adventures as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, and to inspire you to plan your next excursion.

CleverHiker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.